Question about Bronze Casting

[Maslat]

Hi,

I am in the process of setting up my own Bronze-Casting shop to make amulets and pendants that I would like to sell over the internet. However, I only know about the Wax method and am unclear on modern methods of Bronze casting. Could someone here kindly give me some advice on the modern methods of doing this and the price-range for the costs of machinery? I'm setting up this shop in the Philippines by the way and I've already factored in the labor costs. Thanks!

[Maslat]

The people I'm setting this shop up with are telling me that the only things I need are: Rubber Casts, Casting Centrifuge (either manual or automatic), Dental Wax & Plaster of Paris. Is this correct? Is there a better and more economic way of doing this?

[Andrew Werby]

The people I'm setting this shop up with are telling me that the only things I need are: Rubber Casts, Casting Centrifuge (either manual or automatic), Dental Wax & Plaster of Paris. Is this correct? Is there a better and more economic way of doing this?

[While those are some of the tools and supplies you might need, it's not everything. For lost wax casting on a smallish scale, you need (among other things) stainless steel flasks, a vacuum pump and bell jar for investing, a kiln for burning out the wax, and a way to melt your metal. An oxy-acetylene torch is a bit underpowered for melting all but the smallest quantities of bronze; you really should get a melting furnace with crucibles, tongs, etc. Of course you need a gas supply for that, although there are electric furnaces if that's not available.

Most important of all, you need to know what you're doing. If you don't, try to find someone nearby who does and is willing to help you.]

Andrew Werby
www.unitedartworks.com

[ahirschman]

I did a quick search and this seems like a good site for just familiarizing yourself with all the equipment you will need to do what you want you want.

http://www.contenti.com/products/casting/casting-machines.html

Ari.

[Anna Varona]

Hi I was doing a search for bronze casting in the Philippines. I see you posted this a year ago. Were you able to set up shop?

[Merlion]

Do you mean you don't think there are any lost-wax bronze foundries in the Philippines?

Close by to you, there are quite a few in Thailand, China, and Bali. All three have large Buddhist population, and Buddhists like bronze Buddha statues. But Philippines has a large Catholic population. Are bronze statues popular among Catholics?